Zootopia likable and thought-provoking

Spoiler Alert:

Zootopia (called Zootropolis in someplaces) is a pleasant diversion from the high budget, predictable and ultimately disappointing entertainment that cinema goers have been subjected to. At first glance, the story seems to be a buddy cop movie, in which the two characters happen to be a fox and a rabbit. These two natural enemies team up to find out why normally civilized animals are all of the sudden becoming violent.

While many will see the divide between races as being the problem represented in Zootopia, the movie seems to be representing today’s political climate. After all, it isn’t bunnies versus foxes; it isn’t even predators versus prey. It is the big animals, like Chief Bogo who commands a police force of elephants, tigers, bears, and hippos, versus the tiny animals, like Judy Hopps the bunny cum police officer. When fear takes control of Zootropolis, discrimination starts against the predators. There is violence at a rally, and it is touted as a natural reaction to what is going on.

Unfortunately, life is not a Disney film. Zootopia shows us that there can be a better way, but few will get that message out of it. Instead, there will be many who want to enjoy the humor, find the Easter Eggs, like Alan Tudyk reprising a role he has already played for Disney, and there is nothing wrong with that. Let them eat their popcorn, and maybe something of substance will rub off on them.

Zootopia should make film goes grateful that Disney exists and continues to make relatively original movies. Without Disney and its subsidiaries, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, the movie world would be dark, boring and super predictable.